In a well-run classroom, the teacher is not doing all the work. He or she creates the conditions for learning, plans the lessons, tracks student progress. These are major tasks, no question about it! Students though…

In the next few posts, I’m going to focus on Differentiating Instruction in the Math Classroom. I will give you three strategies you can use immediately in the lessons you already have planned- to reach all of those kids! I promise not to ask you to do ANYTHING that wastes your time. I promise to only save you time.

If you’re thinking about fractions, you might be a 5th grade teacher… Thanks to the Common Core State Standards, fifth grade now throws the wildest fraction party on the block! I taught 6th grade math back when that was fraction central, and I learned 3 key things along the way. They have been just applicable in the 5th grade classrooms… Read More

“The ones that are doing the talking are doing the learning.” I know that. But, no matter how many times I say it, the impact on student learning in front of me is profound and somehow surprising. There is no example stronger than that of talking about fractions in math class. I’ve spent most of my career spending part of… Read More

If teaching fifth and sixth graders has taught me anything, it’s that fractions and decimals can be ABSTRACT and TRICKY… and that kids have to be developmentally ready to perform operations on them. The good news is- the standards aren’t encouraging us to get kids to add, subtract, multiply and divide 5/32 and 16/71! We make equivalent fractions as a… Read More

You know that buzz of collaboration and learning that you hope for everyday? It happens when we play this game. Every. Single. Time. If you like Boggle, you’ll love this game. Word Wrangle is a fun classroom word game inspired by my love of Boggle and also my love of quiet. Once upon a time, I bought SIX Boggle games… Read More

💔Not all of the homes our students live in, are meant for a 24/7 quarantine. Not all of the adults who live with children can handle the added pressure. For many of our students, school has been an escape, a respite, a safe haven- from their home lives. And that escape was taken 3 months ago without warning.

🛎 I’ve come to appreciate in recent months, the vital role public school departments play in our communities. The scale of the work has been much grander than the academics and due dates. There are mobile food stations and wellness checks, phone calls and internet setups. There are intuitive teachers recognizing that “something’s just not right” and administrators encouraging them to trust their instincts.

🌼Kids are resilient. Often, they are so strong and brave, you’d never guess where they’ve been.

🌈The WHOLE picture is a big one right now. Before you judge a decision, know that there’s a whole lot you do not know. And know, that everyone involved has the best of intentions. I am in awe of the amazingly thoughtful and important work being done by my educator colleagues in schools all over right now. ...